Itinerary

Days 1-2 En Route/Bangkok, Thailand
Fly U.S. to Bangkok, Thailand. Cross the
International Dateline and “lose” a day.
Overnight Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel,
Bangkok.

Day 3 Luang Prabang, Laos
After an orientation at breakfast transfer to the
airport. Fly to Luang Prabang, the last royal
capital of Laos and one of Asia’s most beautiful
cities. The heart of the town is situated on
a slender spit of land set between the Mekong
and Khan rivers. We’ll start our exploration of
this sacred city of temples by strolling through
town. Learn about its UNESCO World Heritage
status and the history of Luang Prabang while
exploring its beautifully preserved Buddhist
temples and Lanna, Thai and French colonial
fusion architecture. Meander through charming
alleyways draped in flowers, discuss Buddhism
with temple monks, and soak up the serene
ambience.
This afternoon, visit a local home to interact
with a family and glimpse daily life in Laos.
Then visit Boua Kang Bung House to see a celebrated,
authentic example of classical Luang
Prabang architecture, which has been recently
restored by UNESCO.
This evening, transfer to a
century-old, rustic house on a
lotus pond to attend a baci ceremony.
Held to celebrate a special
event, whether a marriage,
a homecoming, or a departure,
it is based on an ancient belief
that the human being is a union
of 32 organs and a kwan (soul)
that watches over each of them.
Since a wayward kwan is often
the attributed cause of an illness
or bad fortune, the baci ceremony
calls the kwan back to the body
from wherever it may be roaming
and re-establishes equilibrium.
The mohkwan is a village elder
who will chant and call the kwan.
At the end of the ceremony, the
village elders wrap a white cotton
thread around your wrist,
while chanting an invocation
to strengthen the power of the
blessings. In Laos, white is the
color of peace, good fortune, honesty
and warmth. Enjoy traditional music and
dance after the ceremony.
Our award-winning hotel is the former residence
of Prince Souvannaphouma, a luxurious
property offering intimate accommodations
and décor with a touch of the contemporary. It
features a celebrated spa. Overnight Maison
Souvannaphoum (B,L,D)

Day 4 Pak Ou/Luang
Prabang
This morning, board a boat and
cruise up the Mekong River to
the Pak Ou Caves, a mystical
pilgrimage site perched above
the river. Peering into dark
corners, your eyes adjust to
reveal the serene faces and
figures of more than 3,000
Buddha images, some inlaid
with semi-precious stones.
That these remain undisturbed
in this remote site in one of
the world’s poorest countries
is a testament to the devotion
of the people. We will return
to Luang Prabang by boat,
stopping at a riverside hamlet
famous for its rice whiskey.
After lunch, explore Wat Mai,
with its elegant five-tiered roof and its delicately
painted gold interior bas-reliefs. See Wat
Visun, well know for its collection of old wooden
Buddha carvings, and Wat Xieng Thong, with its
gold leaf interior. End the day at Ock Pop Tok,
a Lao textile gallery and weaving center. Chat
with the owner while observing the silk-making
process, or try your hand at making a simple dye
from natural products.
Dinner will be on your own tonight, offering
opportunities to explore independently or relax.
Overnight Maison Souvannaphoum (B,L)

Day 5 Countryside/Luang Prabang
Early risers will have a chance to witness a
moving ritual: as long lines of barefoot monks
walking silently along the streets on their morning
alms rounds, watch locals offer alms. This
represents a symbiosis in which rice sustains
the monks’ bodies, while the monks’ prayers
nourish the spirit of those giving the rice. Nearly
all Laotian boys enter the monkhood for a period
of time during late childhood, where they live in
a monastery and study Buddhism.
Note: please observe a respectful distance and
silence while witnessing this ancient, sacred
ceremony.
After breakfast, depart for a full day excursion to
the Elephant Park Project and several surround-
ing villages, located outside of Luang Prabang
along the Nam Khan River. This unspoiled
valley is one of the most beautiful in the area.
Although historically known as the “Land of a
Million Elephants,” Laos is gradually losing its
most treasured animals to human encroachment.
The Elephant Park Project is investing
in community-based eco-programs in Luang
Prabang to give Lao elephants a new home. As
forests disappear, the elephants that used to
log them have become neglected. The aim of
the project is to give these elephants a brighter
future. So far five elephants have been freed
from logging work and given a new home in the
park. Experienced mahouts (trainers and caregivers)
and veterinarians help the elephants
adapt to their new environment.
Tour the elephant project, watch the elephants
bathe, and enjoy an hour-long ride on the back
of one of these intelligent, highly social and
emotional creatures. Venturing into the beautiful
Lao countryside, stop at the cascade falls of Tad
Sae before returning to the camp for lunch.
After lunch enjoy an (optional)
afternoon half-day hike to an
ethnic Khmu village to gain
insight into the daily life and
culture of this hill tribe. The
village is nestled at the foot of
the nearby mountains. Most of
the people here are farmers and
fishermen and live close to the
land. During the afternoon you will be blessed
with great views of the surrounding mountain
range covered in dense jungle. End the day with
a short boat ride on the Nam Khan River from
where you will return to town. For those wanting
to forego the village hike, we will arrange
transport back to town after lunch, with the rest
of the day free to relax or explore on own. Dinner
will be on your own tonight. Overnight Maison
Souvannaphoum (B,L)

Day 6 Luang Prabang/Hanoi, Vietnam
This morning tour the former Royal Palace, now
the National Museum. The Lao royal family lived
here until 1975. Its collection includes lovely
murals of Lao life in shimmering mosaics and
oils, and gifts from heads of state, including a
moon rock from Richard Nixon, given in 1972
(ironically, about the same time U.S. bombing
of Laos reached its peak during the secret war).
Transfer to the airport for our flight to Hanoi.
Check into our restored colonial-period hotel,
Hanoi’s finest, a French colonial masterpiece in
the heart of Hanoi. Dinner will be on your own
tonight, offering opportunities to sample one of
Hanoi’s many fine restaurants. Overnight Sofitel
Metropole Hotel (B,L)

Day 7 Hanoi
After breakfast visit Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum,
a massive, Stalinist edifice displaying Ho Chi
Minh’s embalmed body. Then visit his lovely
wooden house on stilts nearby, and learn of
his central role in the birth of modern Vietnam.
Other sights this morning include the One Pillar
Pagoda and the Temple of Literature, the site
of Vietnam’s first university and a shrine for
Confucian worship founded in the year 1066.
Visit Hoa Lo prison museum, otherwise known as
“the Hanoi Hilton,” built by the French to house
Vietnamese revolutionaries. It was later used to
house and interrogate captured American POWS
during the Vietnam War (called the American
War), including John McCain. Nearby is Craft
Link, a not-for-profit organization specializing
in the production of quality handicrafts
from Vietnam’s many ethnic groups. Late this
afternoon depart on a cyclo (bicycle rickshaw)
tour of Hanoi’s colorful Old Quarter with its
narrow streets, charming shops and unique
architecture. Enjoy a traditional water puppet
performance at the National Theater, followed by
dinner at a favorite local restaurant. Overnight
Sofitel Metropole Hotel (B,L,D)

Day 8 Halong Bay/Hanoi
Depart Hanoi early this morning and journey to
famous and magnificent Halong Bay, a UNESCO
World Heritage site. Arriving at the small port
town of Bai Chay by noon, we’ll board our private
boat, a restored traditional Chinese junk, and
enjoy a half day cruise of the bay with a gourmet
lunch on board. Gently cruise amongst the 3,000
rocky limestone islands that emerge from the
emerald green waters. Return to Hanoi for a free
evening. Overnight Sofitel Metropole Hotel (B,L)

Day 9 Hanoi/Hué
This morning we’ll visit the ethnology museum
on our way to the airport. Fly to Hué, a UNESCO
World Heritage site. Check into the hotel and
enjoy lunch before exploring the Royal Tombs of
the Nguyen Dynasty. Those of Minh Mang and Tu
Duc are the loveliest while that of Khai Dinh—a
puppet of the French colonial regime—is the
most unusual. The tombs are surrounded by
vast, well-tended botanical gardens with beautiful
open-air pavilions. Some emperors were
so concerned about their grave being violated
that, upon completion of the tomb, all of the
thousands of workers who built them were put
to death so as not to divulge the exact location
of the body.
Next visit Thien Mu Pagoda, Vietnam’s most
famous landmark, before returning to Hué. This
afternoon visit the Citadel and the vast, ancient
Forbidden Purple City to glimpse the excesses
of the decadent and often cruel dynastic rulers.
Then cross the river to the Dong Ba Market, one
of the most colorful markets in Asia. A sea of
conical hats for sale stretches for blocks, as do
kaleidoscopic fabrics, fresh fish, and produce
of all descriptions. Tonight enjoy traditional
music and a delicious dinner at a local restaurant.
Our hotel features lovely, original French
colonial architecture and stylish, art-deco decor.
Overnight La Residence Hotel and Spa (B,L,D)

Day 10 Hué/Hoi An
This morning drive south, through some of
Vietnam’s most beautiful scenery. At the 1,500
foot Hai Van Pass—Pass of the Ocean Clouds—
the mountains meet the South China Sea and
the views are spectacular. We’ll stop for a cool
drink at Lan Cao, then at the fascinating Cham
Museum in Danang. This small museum amply
documents a little-known culture,
displaced by the more vigorous Viets,
that produced elegant monuments
and fine sculptures. Time permitting,
we’ll stop for a walk on China
Beach, formerly an R&R base for U.S.
soldiers.
Arrive in Hoi An, a UNESCO World
Heritage site, in time for lunch. For
hundreds of years this was the most
flourishing port in the country and
attracted traders, and influences,
from China, Japan, and Europe. It
is still possible to wander here and
imagine oneself in another age. Take
a sunset river cruise, with a stop at a
quaint boat-building village. Dinner
will be on your own tonight, offering
opportunities to sample one of Hoi
An’s excellent restaurants. Our deluxe
riverside resort is in the French colonial
quarter. Rooms combine modern
flair with Asian touches amidst lush,
landscaped gardens. Overnight Life
Resort (B,L)

Day 11 Hoi An/My Son
Early this morning, depart for an optional journey
to the Cham ruins of My Son, recently classified
a World Heritage site by UNESCO. Located
in a beautiful, green valley surrounded by
impressive mountains, the ruins are the largest
and most intact remains of the ancient Kingdom
of Champa in Vietnam. Then stop at a village
known for its brass gongs.
For those choosing to stay in Hoi An, enjoy a
free morning. Reconvene for lunch, followed by
an exploration of the Japanese Covered Bridge,
the Tang Ky House and the Fukhien Association.
This afternoon, test your skills at Vietnamese
cooking by joining a cooking class with personal
friends of ours. They will give us an introduction
to traditional methods and ingredients used in
Vietnamese dishes. Savor your own creation at
dinner. Overnight Life Resort (B,L,D)

Day 12 Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)
Fly to Saigon. Check into our hotel, then enjoy an
exploration of this vibrant city with visits to the
Reunification Palace, War Remnant Museum and
Emperor of Jade Pagoda. The late afternoon will
be free. This evening enjoy dinner at a favorite
local restaurant. Our hotel is Saigon’s best, a
gorgeous property perfectly located in the heart
of the city. Overnight Park Hyatt Hotel (B,L,D)

Day 13 Cu Chi/Saigon
Take an excursion into the countryside to Cu Chi,
where the famous Viet Cong tunnels are located.
Starting in the 1940s, this hand-dug network of
tunnels offered refuge for the underground (literally)
resistance movement against the French
and later the Americans. The massive system of
tunnels stretched over 75 miles underground,
from Saigon to the Cambodian frontier. Those
who wish can descend into the tunnels to gain
a firsthand view of the terrible conditions faced
by the Viet Cong who lived here. This excursion
provides insightful lessons in how the tenacious
Vietnamese won their last three wars against
formidable powers with vastly superior technology.
Upon return to Saigon explore Chinatown’s
Binh Tay market, Thien Hau Chinese Temple, and
Notre Dame Cathedral. See the Truc Mai House
to visit a family of local artists and to hear a
musical performance. Learn about traditional
Vietnamese instruments through conversations
with the artists and hear performances from
each family member. Dinner will be on your own
tonight, offering opportunities to explore or relax
at our hotel. Overnight Park Hyatt Hotel (B,L)

Day 14 Siem Reap, Cambodia
Enjoy a leisurely morning before our flight to
Siem Reap. On arrival we begin our exploration
of this vast temple complex at Angkor by tuk-tuk
These famous monuments are evidence of the
richness of the Khmer civilization and constitute
one of the world’s greatest architectural
achievements, on a par with the pyramids in
Egypt or Machu Picchu in South America as a
testament to the greatness of a continent’s lost
empire. Henri Mouhot, the 19th century French
explorer who is credited with “discovering”
the ruins after hundreds of years of neglect,
declared in awe that the Angkor complex was
greater than anything left to us by ancient
Greece or Rome.
Visit Preah Khan, with its labyrinth of grey,
decaying stone courtyards are slowly being
reclaimed by the jungle. Large kapok trees
extend limbs and roots throughout the carved
stonework, while raucous parrots screech and
monkeys keep watch to complete a surreal
picture. At sunset stroll through the elaborate
carved halls of Angkor Wat, as a scholarly local
guide illuminates the history and culture of the
ancient Khmer Empire. The ancient complex is
enigmatic and wondrous in the twilight hours.
Our accommodation in Cambodia, Le Grand
Hotel d’Angkor, is an elegant, historic, colonialera
property that exudes a sense of drama and
celebrity chic, and is Siem Reap’s most prestigious
address. It has been gracefully restored
to the former glory that W. Somerset Maugham
once enjoyed, while scribbling insightful musings
on the human condition. Overnight Le
Grand Hotel d’Angkor (B,L,D)

Day15 Tonle Sap/ Bantheay Srei and
Ta Phrom
This morning we drive into the countryside,
stopping en route to visit Wat Bo Krum village
located near the river. Meandering around this
exotic village, enjoying peaceful scenery, chat
with locals, and laugh with children while you
take their picture at the local village school.
Arrive at the quay and board a wooden boat
for a 1.5-hour ride on the Tonle Sap Lake, also
known as the Great Lake of Cambodia. See the
floating schools, markets, and police stations,
and observe daily life. Visit a typical floating
house to interact with the local families. After
this wonderful excursion return to town. An
optional visit to Le Artisans D’Angkor can be
arranged for those interested.
Next take a scenic drive to Banteay Srei. Banteay
Srei loosely translates to “Citadel of Women”
and it houses some of the finest and bestpreserved
examples of classical Khmer basrelief.
The walls are densely covered with some
of the most beautiful and intricate carvings of
any Angkorian temple. The temple’s relatively
small size, pink sandstone construction and
ornate design give it a fairyland ambiance.
Return to town and visit the picturesque Ta
Prom, a jungle-clad temple with overgrown trees
that exudes a haunting and exotic atmosphere.
The magnificent roots of a tree push between
the temple’s huge stone blocks in a strange
embrace. Enjoy a wonderful farewell dinner
tonight. Overnight Le Grand Hotel d’Angkor
(B,L,D)

Day 16 Siem Reap – Bangkok
Enjoy an optional sunrise visit to Angkor Wat.
We’ll return to our hotel for breakfast. After
breakfast, drive to the stunning royal city of
Angkor Thom. From afar it seems a shapeless
jumble of stone, but further scrutiny reveals
huge enigmatic faces, content and serene,
looking in every direction with eyes nearly shut.
Continue your exploration by visiting the Terrace
of the Elephants, which served as a platform
from which to view the victorious returning
army. Then exlore the Terrace of the Leper King,
with its labyrinth of elaborately carved narrow
stone passageways. Return to our hotel
before we transfer to the airport for our mid
afternoon flight to Bangkok. Overnight Novotel
Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel, Bangkok. (B)

Day 17
Fly home or begin a wonderful private
extension, perhaps to a beach in southern
Thailand. (B)

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